Canada’s same-sex marriage bill likely goes to vote this week

Ottawa, Canada, Jun 20, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- According to a report by LifeSiteNews.com, Canada’s same-sex marriage bill is likely to be voted on in Parliament this week, either Wednesday or Thursday. LifeSiteNews.com is attributing this information to “highly placed Liberal sources.”

Canada’s same-sex marriage bill returned to the House from parliamentary committee hearings June 16. The committee presented an amendment to the bill, reaffirming freedom of conscience and freedom of religion as stipulated in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Several pro-family groups, including the Canadian bishops, presented briefs before the committee against Bill C-38.

News about a possible vote this week flies in the face of mainstream media reports about how the Conservatives and other Liberal backbenchers are pushing Parliament to delay the vote to the fall. Mainstream media have reported that Conservatives will cooperate on passing the budget if Bill C-38 is delayed.

However, LifeSiteNews.com says news that the vote will likely be held this week confirms information received earlier, which suggests that the New Democratic Party had agreed to cooperate on the budget on the condition that the same-sex marriage bill is passed before the summer recess.